Blues lead chase for Macca

BIRMINGHAM CITY are currently in the lead to sign Italian international starlet Massimo Maccarone.

The brilliant youngster is coveted by the likes of Juventus and Internazionale, as well as Middlesbrough and Manchester City - but it is The Blues that have tabled the best bid.

Indeed, a bid believed to be £8.3 million will mean that the player arrives in England for contract talks on June 7 - unless another club comes in for the player.

All indications suggest that Maccarone favours a move to Juventus - although he has admitted he would relish the challenge of The Premiership .

Birmingham would pay the forward in the region of £50,000 a week according to the Italian press, but they would be attracting a player that is widely regarded as one of the brightest rising stars in the game.

Maccarone sprang into the attention of English audiences with a goalscoring display for the Azzurri Under-21 side, against England's youths.

Just a night later the 21-year-old proved that he can play at the highest stage when he, on as a late substitute making his debut for the senior Italian side, won the penalty that ultimately clinched the game.

One of the best players of the European Under-21 Championships, England's youngsters again saw Maccarone's best when he grabbed the goal of the tournament against them, flicking the ball over his marker on the volley and driving into the top corner.

It seems likely that there will be other clubs prepared to spend for the young marksman, but at the present time it is The Premiership's newest team that lead the race.